Welcome to the Autumn 2026 Shipping and Energy Newsletter.
In this edition, we bring you a selection of the latest legal and commercial developments shaping the shipping and energy sectors.
In shipping, we consider how design risk can be allocated and managed in complex first-of-a-kind shipbuilding projects, and how geopolitical disruption can translate into sanctions-related contractual disputes. We also examine the Supreme Court’s decision in The LILA LISBON confirming that SALEFORM 2012 buyers can recover loss-of-bargain damages, the Court of Appeal’s guidance on the interpretation of sanctions-risk-avoidance clauses in Tonzip Maritime v 2 Rivers, and the IMO’s inaugural guidelines on ship registration.
On the energy front, we are pleased to feature an article by our U.S. colleague Sudan I. Maccio on Venezuela’s energy reopening and what it means for European operators. We also reflect on the growing use of integrated services contracts in the offshore oil and gas sector and the risks they present, and we highlight our role in O.G. Energy’s US$1.35 billion cross-border reserve-based lending financing.
In dispute resolution, we consider what the High Court’s decision in Svella v Virgin Media means for good-faith obligations in long-term commercial contracts.
There is also news regarding the London office, including the arrival of Louise Woods as Chair of International Disputes, joined by Elena Guillet and Anuja Venkataramani, and the welcome of four new trainees. Finally, we provide a round-up of past and upcoming events, including the Crafty Counsel Energy & Resources Day, London Arbitration Week and BIMCO’s Shipbuilding and Offshore Construction Contracts Seminar.
We hope that you will find these insights valuable for navigating the evolving legal landscape. Should you wish to discuss any of these matters, or if there are topics you would like us to cover in future editions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
